Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Extravaganza Time&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Extravaganza Time’, having a good uniform canopy of white and purple single flowers with a light green disc. The new variety has a uniform spreading habit with a good foliage presentation.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/578,009, filed Jun. 7, 2004.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Extravaganza Time’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, and referred to by the variety name ‘Extravaganza Time’.

‘Extravaganza Time’, identified as ‘21941-0’, originated from a cross in a controlled breeding program in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The female parent of the variety is ‘20934-0’, an undistributed and unpatented seedling and the male parent of the variety is ‘20713-0’, an undistributed and unpatented seedling.

The new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Extravaganza Time’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety having large white and purple bi-color flowers with a green disc.

Comparison with Female Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ are similar to the parent ‘20934-0’ in plant habit and growth rate. However in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ differed from plants of the parent ‘20934-0’ in the following characteristics:

1. The new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ produces large white and purple bi- color flowers whereas the parent ‘20934-0’ produces white flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ have larger and taller inflorescence than plants of ‘20934-0’.

3. Plants of the new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ have a quicker response time to the plants of ‘20934-0’.

Comparison with Male Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ are similar to the parent ‘20713-0’ in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ differed from plants of the parent ‘20713-0’ in the following characteristics:

1. The new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ produces large white and purple bi-color flowers whereas the parent ‘20934-0’ produces white flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ have larger and taller inflorescence than plants of ‘20934-0’.

3. Plants of the new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ have a quicker response time to the plants of ‘20934-0’.

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ are similar to the variety ‘Lunar Time’ (United States Plant Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0056259) in plant habit and growth rate. However, in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ differed from plants of ‘Lunar Time’ in the following characteristics:

1. The new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ produces white and purple single flowers whereas ‘Lunar Time’ produces cream and purple flowers.

2. Plants of the new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ have smaller and shorter inflorescence than plants of ‘Lunar Time’.

3. The new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ does not produce pollen whereas ‘Lunar Time’ has pollen on the disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ are shown in the accompanying digital photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 56 days from the commencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Extravaganza Time’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, in the month of September. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C. to 24° C. during the day under light conditions of about 5,000 to 6,000 foot candles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such as one B9 treatment at about 2 gram per liter. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typical container size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with a response time of about 7.5 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growth in a temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

The new variety may be produced as a spray. The following description is with respect to a plant produced as pot. In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot. -   Habit: Upright and free branching. -   Height (cm): 22. -   Width (cm): 32. -   Stem: Length (cm): 6.0 Diameter (cm): 0.5 Texture: slightly     pubescent Color: 138B. -   Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching. -   Lateral branches: Length (cm): 12 Diameter (cm): 0.3 Texture:     slightly pubescent. -   Number of breaks from pinch: 4. -   Response time: 52 days. -   Vigor: Medium to tall. -   Shelf life: 21 days. -   Life of blooms: 21 days. -   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date. -   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date. -   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None     observed to date. -   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter     B9 @2, 21 and 28 days after sticking unrooted cuttings. The plants     were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours of light)     and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative Propagation Via Stem Cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.         -   Rooting habit.—After 7 days the first roots emerge and form             root primordia. In 14 Long Days a complete root system is             developed.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 12. -   Compound or single: Single. -   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed.         -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 4 Length (cm): 6.5.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Attachment.—Petioled.         -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.         -   Margin.—Lobed.         -   Surface characteristics.—Top: Slightly pubescent Bottom:             Pubescent. -   Petiole: Color: 137C Length (cm): 1.3 Diameter (cm): 0.3. -   Venation: Color: upper side: 138B under side: 138C. -   Color: Mature Leaf, upper side: 137C; under side: 138B Young Leaf,     upper side: 137B; underside: 138B.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Matte. -   Flower type: Single. -   Flower form: Slightly cupped. -   Flower shape: Circular. -   Flowering habit: Cyme. -   Number of blossoms per branch: 5. -   Typical and observed flowering season: January to December. -   Inflorescence form: Cyme.     -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—1.5.         -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—8. -   Phyllaries: Number: 20 Color: 138B Length (cm): 0.6 Width (cm): 0.1     Texture/Appearance: Pubescent. -   Peduncle: Length (cm): 12 Diameter (cm): 0.3 Angle from stem     (degrees): 20 Color: 138A Surface: Slightly pubescent Habit:     Slightly undulating Strength: Moderately strong. -   Pedicel: Length: terminal (cm): 2; lateral (cm): 4 Diameter (cm):     0.2 Color: 138B Surface: Slightly pubescent Habit: Slightly     undulating Strength: Moderately strong. -   Ray florets: Form/Shape: Straight with rounded tip and tapered at     the base Texture/Appearance: Matte Number per flower: 22 Length     (cm): 4; Width (cm): 0.7 Apex: Rounded Base: Tapered Margin: Entire. -   Disc florets: Form/Shape: Cylindric Texture/Appearance: Shiny Number     per flower: >200 Length (cm): 0.5; Width (cm): 0.1 Diameter of disc     (cm): 1.3. -   Fragrance: None. -   Flower bud (at onset of color): Length (cm): 1 Diameter (cm): 1     Form/Shape: Globular. -   General flower color:     -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: 64B from center             towards the base and 158A towards the apex Mature: 63B from             center towards the base and 155A towards the apex             Older/Fading: 64D from center towards the base and 155A             towards the apex.         -   2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: 63A from center             towards the base and 158A towards the apex Mature: 63B from             center towards the base and 155A towards the apex             Older/Fading: 63C from center towards the base and 155A             towards the apex.         -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: 144C Mature: 151A Older/Fading:             151C.         -   4. Bud.—158A towards the apex and 64A from center towards             the base. -   Flower progression with age: The flower form does not change but     there is a slight color fading with age.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium present on Ray and Disc florets. -   Ray florets per individual flower: Pistillate.     -   -   Pistil number.—22.         -   Stigma color.—151D.         -   Stigma shape.—forked.         -   Style color.—151C.         -   Style length (cm).—0.3. -   Disc florets per individual flower: Pistillate.     -   -   Pistil number.—>200.         -   Stigma color.—151D.         -   Stigma shape.—forked.         -   Style color.—151C.         -   Style length (cm).—0.3. -   Androecium not observed. -   Fruit and seeds: None observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 